12 Issue 6 2020
COVID-19 news, diagnostics & instrumentation
IFC and Imperial partner to pilot modular COVID-19 screening
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n September, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, announced a partnership with South Africanlisted Imperial to jointly develop a modular screening and treatment healthcare infrastructure programme in sub-Saharan Africa to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Supported by IFC, Imperial, an integrated market access and logistics provider including healthcare infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, is developing a pilot project in South Africa to manufacture and deploy modular healthcare units that will provide screening, treatment and other healthcare services to COVID-19 patients. The programme’s aim is to expand services in densely populated, low-income urban areas where access to healthcare is limited. Imperial will further partner with IFC to develop additional pilots in other countries in the region, including Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana, identifying country-specific needs and approaches that can be scaled up with the assistance of private healthcare service operators and government partnerships. Mohammed Akoojee, Imperial Group CEO, said, “There is an urgent need to increase diagnostic and treatment capacity, improve healthcare infrastructure, and provide medical supplies to underserved communities throughout sub-Saharan Africa. This partnership will create a much-needed model for doing so rapidly and effectively – and for supporting communities at a time of great need.” The first pilot of the programme, which launched in South Africa in September 2020, includes five modular screening and treatment centres for COVID-19 patients. These modular testing units can be deployed in less than a day and have the potential to boost healthcare options and help reduce infection risk among people and their communities. Additionally, the modular treatment facilities created
under the programme will contribute to primary healthcare infrastructure options beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for underserved communities. Imperial’s work in the healthcare sector includes market access and logistics services in over 20 African countries - including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Malawi and specialises in the use of modular medical infrastructure to deliver primary healthcare. Imperial has also invested in and continues to support Unjani Clinics NPC (Unjani), a nurse-led network of modular clinics that provide primary healthcare to under-served communities in South Africa. Imperial is leveraging the Unjani network to deploy the first pilot in South Africa to support the expansion of COVID-19 screening and treatment capacity of existing clinics. The first five facilities with Unjani are in the Gauteng province, located in Tokoza, Villa Lisa, Winterveldt, Kagiso and Orange Farm.
Modular healthcare units for COVID-19
Rapid lateral flow strip test for the detection of total antibodies in blood
Simple 3-step procedure for the detection of total antibodies to COVID-19
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he Coviscreen kit is a lateral flow assay for screening for COVID-19 or to aid in the diagnosis of COVID-19 disease and exposure to the virus. The Coviscreen kit detects SARSCoV-2 total antibodies (IgM + IgG + IgA) in human serum, plasma, and whole blood. Total antibodies is a term used when IgM, IgA& IgG antibodies are detected together without differentiation. This kit is CE-IVD marked and is intended for in vitro diagnostic use in Europe. Being a screening test for COVID-19 infection, presumptive positive specimens need to be further confirmed with additional tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. • • • •
High sensitivity: 100% High specificity: 99.07% Fast: 20-minute assay Simple procedure: no instrumentation required
Tel: (011) 372 6500 michelle.neilson@imperiallogistics.com www.imperiallogistics.com
PERKIN ELMER Tel: (011) 564 0600 Fax: (011) 564 0899 sonja.oosthuizen@perkinelmer.com www.perkinelmer.com
VWR infrared thermometers TP500 ideal for use during COVID-19 pandemic •
IMPERIAL
The Coviscreen SARS-CoV-2 lateral flow strip kit enables rapid and easy point-ofcare testing. It incorporates an easy threestep assay with a fast 20-minute protocol which does not require any instrumentation for detection of SARSCoV-2 total antibodies. Products may not be licensed in accordance with the laws in all countries, such as the United States and Canada. Please check with your local representative for availability.
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Temperature unit: Celsius (°C) / Fahrenheit (°F) Resolution: 0.1°C Range of displayed temperature: 32°C ~ 43.0°C Maximum allowable error: 35.0°C ~ 42.0°C: ±0.2°C < 35.0°C or > 42.0°C: ±0.3°C Maximum allowable clinical repeatability: ±0.3°C Measurement time: less than 1 second Display mode: LCD display Memory data: 30 groups Power management: intelligent shutdown, ultra-low power consumption control; power display; low power reminder Power supply: DC3 V (2 AAA batteries) Protection against liquid penetration: IPX0 Duration of use: 5 years Body weight: about 130g (TP500) / about 80g (TP600) 12-month warranty Fever alarm.
MONITORING AND CONTROL LABORATORIES (PTY) LTD JHB: (011) 608 4664 CPT: 086 010 9259 KZN: (031) 914 2912 sales@moncon.co.za www.moncon.co.za
